you,’ I mumbled incredulously. It was the woman dressed in magenta with chipped nail-varnish. I went over to touch her to see if she was real. Her hands were soft and elasticy like my grandmother’s. I gripped them tightly.
‘Would you like some coffee? Two sugars, endlessly stirred?’ She smiled.
All the questions that I had silently formulated with poised composure on my way down were forgotten and something completely different came blurting out. ‘How did I get here? Where am I? What’s happening to me?’
‘One at a time, my dear. This is the land of possibility where intentions are set and dreams manifest into reality,’ she replied, putting her hand over mine.
‘Where’s that then?’
She laughed. ‘You know the answer to that.’
‘So how did I get here?’
‘By leaving all that you know to be true behind—the safety of your home, your family, your routine—you took a leap of faith.’
‘It was only because I knew I saw him. I’ve never seen something like that with such clarity. I’ve come in search of him you know.’
‘I know,’ she replied.
‘Do you know where he is and how I can find him?’
‘He’s not as far as people think but few really find him. Some make it their life’s work, some come so close but then for reasons that appear mysterious only to others decide to turn back. There are even many who know his exact whereabouts but decide to leave him be, because they know that life can never be the same once they are touched by him. You do know that, don’t you? When you follow your dream, your fears will follow you.’
Life would never be the same after this whole episode, regardless. My fears were the least I had to worry about.
‘Is he near here somewhere? Am I on the right track?’
‘Have patience and all will be revealed to you when you are ready. Focus hard on your intention and then let go. If you do this, he will surrender himself effortlessly.’
‘That’s all?’
‘Just one more thing. Do not stand in your own way by having a fixed set of outcomes, for there is beauty in the adventure of not knowing—of not being certain.’ With both hands, the Gypsy clasped my hand so tightly that I wanted to cry. I knew that grip well; my grandmother had done that same thing to me before she sent me off, and I never saw her again.
At that moment I was desperately trying to think of the last thing my grandmother said to me. Many times I have tried to remember.
‘When you are unsure of what to do, just be still and listen in here,’ the Gypsy whispered, tapping against her chest.
Tears rolled down my face.
‘And if you are still unable to hear, just breathe.’
As I walked back to the village I focussed hard on my intention to see the African dancer in whatever shape or form he decided to present himself, and then I attempted to let go by surrendering my desire, thinking that if it didn’t work out, another fate, perhaps a better one, would be presented to me.
The boys were all playing in the square as I made my way to the Del Reys’ house. A little figure was puffing his way towards them in an attempt to be fully incorporated into the action, if not to become the centre of it. It was little José. The schoolmaster had kept him behind at school for his impertinence.
‘Will José be late again in the morning?’ inquired the maths teacher.
‘Will the maths teacher draw water from the well for his mother every morning?’ retorted little José.
It was something I would have said as a child, not fearing the consequences, but as I grew older I understood the complex web of emotions that makes us a prisoner of our own fear.
Little José ran towards the boys, unable to contain the many rumours he had heard that afternoon. There existed something called a Super Information Highway. Yes, that was right, it was called something like that. It was also suggested that the Gypsy was in possession of a modem.
‘A modem,’ gasped all the boys.
‘That was what gave the Gypsy her powers,’ continued little José proudly.
He revelled in this piece of information that made the older boys gather around him. Making up whatever he could, he had them all in the palm of his little hand.
It was getting late and Delores left the house to call her son. I watched the look of a mother’s angst as she went to go and get him; it was only then I understood the significance of that same face my Auntie Sheila had had when she came to get me.
Little José was also blissfully unaware. He had aspirations ten times higher than himself. They made him grow. All four foot of him just believed. Living in the land of tooth fairies, pixies and magic Kings was effortless. Delores, his mother, was afraid. In just a few years her warrior would be entering adolescence. The world inhabited by eight billion would soon become a battlefield for just one. All alone he would have to confront the battles between dreams and practicalities; the possible and the impossible; the mundane and the extraordinary; the insignificance of the individual placed amongst the significance of the masses. The list went on—and of course, the final conflict, never quite resolved, would be carried through into adulthood. If only I had understood this sooner then things might have turned out differently.
Delores wished that her son would come out unscathed.. She hoped that he would retain his vision, his humility and compassion, and would emerge a proud but not arrogant man with the humour and the smile that would continue to melt a thousand hearts, and that the right heart would find him.
But deep down she feared adolescence would take her little boy. Things that she had said or hadn’t said; things that she had done or hadn’t done. Blaming the inadequacies of his mother would be a way of comprehending the imperfections of adulthood. But Delores continued to hope. The anxiety left her as she laughed at the thoughts that entered and played inside a mother’s head.
She took her little boy’s hand. Embarrassed that his friends could have witnessed such an act, he let go and walked behind her.
Staying with the Del Reys gave me an insight into the ups and downs of a truly passionate relationship. Since the Encarna incident, José Del Rey knew that he was skating on thin ice. He put a cigarette to his mouth and was about to light it when Delores pulled it out and trod on it. There was no moustache to hide behind and the frustration was evident. My Uncle Bali would probably not have even dared to light up a cigarette in front of my Auntie Sheila in the first place. Not wanting to aggravate her in any way, he skirted around her, making his presence barely felt.
Days passed, and as I really got to know the Del Reys all thoughts of finding the African dancer seemed secondary. If I returned home with just the experience of being with them, it would be enough. However, as I woke up one morning my instinct was telling me to climb to the top of the mountain and complete my journey.
José Del Rey argued with me, saying he wanted to accompany me, and added that very few who didn’t know the terrain made it safely to the top. Having been cushioned and cosseted for most of my life, I knew it was a journey I had to make on my own. Knowing all the consequences of making this trip alone, I set off early, laden with all the necessities José had put together for me. I did not even bother to ask where he had found a miner’s helmet complete with built-in light, but he smiled as he put it on my head and patted it.
It was a long, hard walk as the track was undefined. My little toes rubbed against the sides of the boots; pain invaded my feet and exhaustion saturated my body as the pack felt heavier and heavier. The trees grew even denser and brambles cut my hands. As night began to fall my heart leaped with the slightest noise and I feared what bugs would be landing on me. When I felt I couldn’t go on and wanted to turn